CANARY ISLANDS

CANARY ISLANDS (The) lie in the North Atlantic Ocean, between the parallels of Lat. 27. 40. and 29. 30. N., and the meridians of Long. 13. 30. and 18. 20. W. The names of the seven principal islands, their respective area in English square miles, and their population in 1835, are given in the following table:—

Fuerteventura lies nearest to the African coast, the interval being between 50 and 60 miles. Besides these, there are many islets, most of which are uninhabited.

History.—There is ground for supposing that the Phoenicians were not ignorant of the Canaries. The Romans, in the time of Augustus, received intelligence of them through Juba, king of Mauritania, whose account has been transmitted to us by the elder Pliny. He mentions "Canaria," so called from the multitude of dogs of great size, and "Nivaria, taking its name from perpetual snow, and covered with clouds," doubtless Teneriffe. Canaria was said to abound in palms and pine trees. Both Plutarch and Ptolemy speak of the Fortunate Islands, but their description is so imperfect that it is not clear whether the Madeiras or the Canaries are referred to. There is no farther mention of them until we read of their re-discovery about 1334, by a French vessel driven amongst them by a storm. A Spanish nobleman thereupon obtained a grant of them with the title of king from Clement VI., but want of means prevented him carrying out his project of conquest. Two expeditions subsequently set out from Spanish ports, and returned without having taken possession. At length three vessels, equipped by Jean de Bethencourt a gentleman of Normandy, sailed from Rochelle in 1400, and bent their course to the Canaries. He landed at Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, but being opposed by the natives, and finding himself deficient in means to effect his purpose, he repaired to the court of Castile; and obtaining from Henry III. a grant of the islands, with the title of king, he sailed in 1404 with a strong force, which mastered Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gomera, and Hierro,